Apparatus for the production and utilization of working fluids.



0. KRAUS. j

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION 0F WORKIN FLUIDS.

APPLICATION FILEU IULY 8. l9l3.

0. KHAUS.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION 0F WORKING FLUIDS. APPucATloN FILED luLY s, |913.

1,1 91 ,1 95. l Patented July 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

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Original application led .Tune 18, 1912,

' 'i UNITED ASTATES PATENT OFFICE OTTO KRAUS, OF NEW'YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO KRAUS'ENGINE COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARTUS FOR THE PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION OF WORKING FLUIDS.

To all'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, OTTO KRAUS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the borough of Manhattan, inthe city, county, and State of New York, have invented' certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Production and Utilization of Torking Fluids, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the production and utilization of working fluids; and an object of this invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of such apparatus and to increase the eflciency thereof.

' In the drawings illustrating the principle of this invention and the best mode now known to me of applying that principle, Figure l is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying this invention, parts being shown broken away and in section for the purpose ofA disclosing the interior construction; Fig. 2 is a central, longitudinal section through the combustion and steam-generating chambers and the parts connected thereto; Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating in central vertical section the interior of the pump and the springpressed valve controlling the port leading from thel pump-chamber to the discharge conduit; and Fig. 4 is a detail of the pumpactuating mechanism.

The structure as a whole consists of three main parts: namely, (l) an engine proper in which the working fluid is utilized and its heat'energy is transformed into mechanical energy; (2) the supply apparatus by which the air, liquid fuel and water are supplied for the production of the working lluid; and 3) the working-Huid generator in which the oil is burned and the products of combustion are thoroughly mixed with water and thereby transformed into the working fluid.

In each power cylinder a there is mounted the usual piston b to which is suitably attached an ordinary piston-rod c carrying at its lower end a crosshead al which is by means of a rod g connected with a crank l1, formed upon the engine-shaft i, which is mounted in the crank chamber 7' and upon one end of which is fastened a ily-wheel and upon the opposite end of which is mounted a spur-gear m in meshy with a spur-gear Specification of Letters Patent. Y Patnted July 18 1916 Serial' No. 704,323. .Divided and this application led .Tuly 8, 1913. Serial No. 777,868. v

n that serves to drive but is lengthwise movable of the engine-valve operating shaft o. This shaft o extends parall'elto the engine shaft and lies within the crank-casing p. Each power cylinder a is provided with a valve casing q in' which is mounted a suitable valve which controls the flow of the working fluid from the inlet conduit t to the valve chamber within the casing g.

The engine proper is mounted between a pair of air-compressors 3 each of which is provided with a piston 6 connected by a suitable connecting-rod 6 with cranks 6 formed upon the engine-shaft z'. In the upper endv of each :ur-compressor there is formed a water-space or water-chamber 7 so that these air-compressors are water-jacketed; and these water-chambers 7 are connected by a suitable water-pipe 8. These air-compressors discharge compressed air into a conduit 9, which through the valve-controlled pipe 10 communicates with the furnace l1 as hereinafterl described. v

The liquid fuel is supplied from an oiltank 12, from which it is drawn through a pipe 13 by a suitable oil-supply pump 14 which forces the oil through the pipe 15X into the oil-reservoir 15, where it is subjected to air pressure, as hereinafter described. Any overflow of oils through the overflow pipe 15* from the oil-reservoir 15 is pumped back through the return pipe 16* intovthe oil-tank 12 by the oil-return 'pump 16.

The walls of the combustion chamber 17 of the furnace 11 are hollow and the chambers in these walls are supplied with water by the unter-,supply pump 18, which forces the water through the water-inlet pipe 19 into these chambers. Therefore, the combustion-chamber 17 is water-j acketed.- Above the top wall of the latter there is formedv a water-tank or reservoir 20 which is closed by a cover 21. .This water-tank communicates by an inclined channel 22 With the lower portion of the steam-generating chamber 23. The upper end of this passage 22 is provided with a cup-shaped inlet 24 having a foraminated bottom 25 to permit the water to flow into the cup 24 and thence down the hollow stem 26 thereof into the passage 22.

Air and oil in the form of a Spray enter the combustion-chamber 17 from the norzle.`

nozzle 34 is mounted there is an annular airchamber 41 which at its outer end communicates through a passage 42 with the air-space 43 above the oil-level in the oil reservoir 15 and which at its opposite or inner end communicates through the air-inlet passage 44 with the interior of the furnace 11. The

inlet Ypassages 39, 44 are formed in the' atomizer-nozzle 34 and merge at their inner ends (Fig. 2). Compressed air is supplied to the annular air-chamber 41 through a branch feed-pipe 45 which extends upwardlyfrom the main compressed-air feedipe 10 which communicates with the conduit 9 and, through an airipe 46, with the compressed-air reservoir 4 The bottom of the furnace 11 is formed with an air-passage 48 into the outer end of which is fitted the upper end of an air-pipe49 the lower end of which is inserted in an opening in the valve-casing 50. This valve-casing is carried by the discharge-end of the main' air-feed pipe 10 and incluses the valve-chamber 51, in which is mounted a valve52. A coil-spring 53 normally presses the head of the valve 52 toward the discharge end of .the main air-feed pipe 10; and in addition to the pressure of the coil-spring 53 there is acting on the head of the valve 52 in the same direction the pressure of the gases in the combustion chamber 17 with which the valve-chamber 51 is incommunication through the pipe 49 and the channel 48. Hence, when the air-pressure in the main air-feed pipe 10 is high enough to force the valve 52 open and, therefore, to discharge air into the combustion-chamber 17 through the air-passage 48 (which in the normal operation of the apparatus it is), it is insured that the air-pressure acting in the airchamber 41 in the atomizer exceeds the backpressure in the chamber 17 and is high enough to drive the oil and air through the passages 39, 44 in the atomizer-nozzle with thorough atomization of the oil and thence into the .combusion-chamber against the back pressure bf the gases therein. It is to be observed that the main supply of air is delivered into the combustion-chamber through the air-passage 48 at a substantial distance beyond the atomizer-nozzle 34. By this arrangement the mixture of oil and air issuing from the nozzle 34 is -maintained rich in oil and, therefore, readily ignitible while a supply of air sufficient for complete against the tension of the -posite direction, the passage of the goil is narrowed and the combustion is delivered through the airpassage 48. lf the fiame should go out, reignition occurs automatically from the heat stored up in a metal pin 54 the inner end of which projects into the combustion-chamber 17 through the top thereof, while its outer end is bathed and cooled by the water in the Water-tank 20. For igniting the spray at the starting of the engine, a sparkplug 55 is rovided (Fig.l 2).

The nee e valve. 37. is provided with a threaded portion 56 which engages the threaded wall of an opening 57 in the outer end of its valve-casing, so that rotation of the needle valve 37 will result in its lengthwise movement. rlhe stem of the needlevalve projects outwardly beyond its valvecasing and its projecting end is rotatably mounted in the upper end of a bracket 58 fastened to the top of the oil reservoir 15. To this projecting end there .is fastened a rocker-arm 59 which is connected by a connecting-rod 60 to the upper end of the stem 6.1. of a headed plunger or piston 62, which is slidably mounted in a cylinder 63. That portion of the Space within the latter which is below the plunger-head 62 is-connected by the pipe 64 with the air-space 43 above the oil-level in the oil reservoir 15, so thatl the same air-pressure which acts upon the oil acts also upon the piston 62. Between this piston and the cap of the cylinder 63 is interposed a coil-spring 65. When the air-pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum, the piston 62 is forced upwardly spring 65 and thereby .turns the needle-valve 37 in such a direction as to cause it to move outwardly and to enlarge the opening 4for the passage of the oil, the weight ofwhich fed to the combustion chamber is thus increased proportionately to the increase-in the density of the air. When the air-pressure -falls below a predetermined minimum, the spring 65 forces the plunger-head 62 inwardly and thereby rotates the needle-valve 37 in an opwh'erebythe opening for weight of oil fed to the combustion'chamber 17 is decreased proportionately to the decrease-in the densityof the air. By this arrangement the ratio of the weight of the .oil which enters the-mixture issuing from the atomizer-nozzle to the weightV of the air in the mixture is automatically kept constant and the richness of the mixture is maintained.

VThe plungers 66 (Fig. 3) of the three pumps 14, 16, 18 are connected by a crossbar 67 (Fig. 1) to which is attached a lever 68 'which is fulcrumed at 69 in the.' crank- 'casing pV and the outer end of which is formed with a handle 70 and the inner end of `which projects into the crank-chamber j and rests through themedium of a camroller 71 upon a cam 72 carried by the valveoperating shaft o. Between the lever 68 and a bracket 73 attached to the crank-cas ing p is interposed a coil spring 74 which presses the cam-roller 71 toward thecam 72. As the valve-controlling shaft o rotates, the lever 68 will be rocked and will cause the reciprocation of the plungers 66 of the three pumps. In case the level of t-he oil in the oil-reservoir 15 is too low or there is not sufficient water in the water-jacket 2.0 at the time it is desired to start the engine, the operator by working the lever 68 by hand can bring the oil and water to their normal levels shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 3, each of the three pumps is provided with a gravity-controlled inlet-valve 75 and a spring-pressed discharge-valve 76. tIn the case of the oilreturn pump 16 the tension of the spring 77 of the discharge valve 76 is so adjusted that this valve will open only when the pressure acting in the pump chamber 16X is greater than the highest air-pressure likely to exist in the oil-reservoir 15. The air cannot therefore, flow continuously from the latter out through the pump-chamber 16X past the discharge-valve 76. When, however, due to the overiow of oil through the pipe 15* and the resulting decrease of the clearance in the pump-chamber, the pressure acting in the pump-chamber during the down stroke of the iston exceeds that for which the spring 77) is set, the discharge Valve 76 will open and allow the oil to flow past it into the oil-return pipe 16*. By this arrangement the oil is kept under pressure and at a constant level in the oil-reservoir 15.

The operation of the apparatus hereinbefore described will be readily understood, when the foregoing .description is read in connection with the drawings. Inistarting the engine by hand the relief-cocks 86 which communicate with the cylinders of the aircompressors 3 may be opened' temporarily. The relief-valve 87 in the air-pipe 9, which connects the air-compressors, is closed, as

are also the valve 88 in the small pipe 90 and the valve 89 in the pipe 46. These pipes 90, 46, connect the compressed-air tank 47 with the conduits 9, 10, respectively. If the oil in the oil reservoir 15 or the *water in the tank 2O are not at their normal levels, the operator seizes the handle 70 of the lever 68 and operates the pumps until the oil and water are brought to their normal levels. The spark-plug 55 is made operative by closing a switch (not shown). The fly wheel k may now be turned by hand, whereby the air-compressors 3.are driven and are made to force compressed air through the conduit 9, past the valve 91 into the main air-feed pipe 10 and thence through the latter and theA branch inlet-pipe to the atomizer-cham- '1n the pipe 90. Thus a supply ated by ber 41, and past the valve 52 and through the air-passage 48 into the combustion chamber 17. As the engine warms up, the working Huid will be supplied to the working cylinders a at a constantly increasing temperature and will assist in driving the engine-shaft, until finally the engine runs by itself. The relief-cocks 86 are then closed andthe valve 88vis opened. In starting the engine under power stored in the compressed-air tank 47, as may, for example, be done after a stoppage of short duration, the relief valve 87 in the air-pipe 9 and the rel1ef-cocks 86 may be opened and the valve 88 in the small air-pipe 90 is closed. The valve 89 in the pipe 46 is opened and air under pressure flows from the air-tank 47 into the main air-feed pipe 10, closing automatically the gravity-controlled check-valve 91 therein. The air Hows from the main airfeed pipe 10 through the atomizer 35 and into the combustion chamber 17, as justset forth in connection with the description of starting the engine by hand. The valve 87 is closed; and after the engine is fully started, the air-cocks 86 are closed and the valve 88 in the small air-pipe 90 is opened to permit a small portion of the compressed air to How from the conduit 9 into the compressed air-tank 47 past the check Valve 92 o-f compressed air is kept constantly on hand for starting the engine by compressed air after short stoppages. In case the load upon the engine becomes abnormally great, as in ascending a steep grade, for example, the relief valve 87 and the valve 89 may be opened so that power will be derivedv from the air-tank 47 and the power normally used in compressing the air will also be available for propelling the apparatus for a shortperiod. The power of the engine may also be controlled by turning the throttle-valve 93 which is provided with a handle 93 and is formed with ports 93 which may be brought into more or less complete register with the inlet conduits t which lead to the valve chambers 1' in which are mounted the engine-valve s;

The supply-pipe 94 of the water-pump l18 may be so connected as to draw water from the water-chambers 7 with which the aircompressors 3 are provided; and in case the engine is connected with a condenser, this supply-pipe may also be connected with the hot-well of the condenser, whereby preheated water may be furnished to the waterjacket 20 of the furnace 11 and thence to the steam-generating chamber 23. 1

In case it be desired to store air under a pressure higher than that normally generthe air-compressors 3, there may be provided for this purpose an independent air-compressor (not shown) which would be driven from the engine-shaft z' and connected by suitable piping with the compressedair tank t7.' ln this case the small pipe 90 which in Fig. 1 connects the conduit 9 with the latter may be omitted. A quantit of air thus stored under high pressure wi l be found useful in an emergency where there is a sudden call for a large expenditure of energy in a short time- (for instance, in stlarting locomotives, automobiles and the li e f Y Fbr the successful performance of an apparatus of this kind it is essential that the combustion of the oil be sustained and uniform during the working ofthe engine. lt is to be observed that the wall 40 which surrounds the opening in which is mounted the atomizer 35 is water-cooled, so that the oil is prevented from being unduly preheated and broken up into its constituents, decomposed or vaporized'before its admission into the combustion chamber 17; and thus the richness of the combustible mixture is maintained and deposits of carbon in the oil-inlet passage are avoided. Further, the inlet-end of the oil-passage 39 is arranged to lie above the air-inlet passage 44 and is inclined thereto, whereby any dripping of the oil will be directed into the air-current and not away from it. In this way an intimate mixing of the oil and air and a thorough atomization of the oil is insured.

ln accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of this invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but 1 desire to have it distinctly understood that the apparatus shown is only representative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

This application is filed as a divisional application under my parent pendin'g application Serial No. 704,323, filed June 18, 1912.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described, including a furnace; an air-compressor; a compressed-air reservoir supplied by the latter; a conduit which connects said air-compressor and furnace; a second conduit which connects the iirst-named conduit with said reservoir; and a valve which automatically prevents the back-flow of air from said reservoir to said air-compressor through said conduits, while permitting the free flow of air from said air-compressor to said furnace through the first-named conduit.

2. An apparatus of the character described, including a furnace; a source of compressed air; a liquid-fuel reservoir arranged to communicate with said source; a fuel-spraying device which communicates scribed,including a furnace;

anism for furnishing fuel and water to the menace with said reservoir; a conduit which leads air under pressure from said source to said furnace; and a regulating resistance which is mounted in said conduit and which prevents the passage of air therethrough unlessv the pressure of the air is -suicient to force fuel through said device.

3. An apparatus of the character described, including an air-compressor; an engine for driving the same; a compressed-air reservoir supplied by the latter; a conduit which connects said air-compressor and engine; a second conduit which connects the first-named conduit with said reservoir; and means for automatically preventing the back-How of air from said reservoir to said air-compressor, while permitting the free flow of air from said air-compressor to said engineJ through the first-named conduit.

4. An apparatus AVof the character depumping mechsa'me; an engine which is driven by the workingfluid from said furnace and drives said mechanism; and means for manually operating the latter, said means connecting said engine and mechanism.

5. An apparatus of the characterl described; including a furnace; a source of compressed air; a liquid-fuel reservoir arranged to communicate with said source; a fuel-spraying .device which communicates with said reservir; a conduit which leads air under pressure from said source to said furnace; and regulating means which will automatically cause th'e air flowing through said device to be of greater pressure than the air iiowing into said furnace through said conduit. v

6. An apparatus of the character described, including a furnace; a source of compressed air; a liquid-fuel reservoir arrangedto communicate with said source; a fuelspraying device whichcommunicates with said reservoir; a conduit which leads air under pressure from said source to said furnace; and a loaded valve which will auto.

matically cause the air flowing through'said OTTO KRAUS.

Witnesses a Y M. E. WoARDnLL, Jams HaiunzroN.' 

